Thursday, November 1, 2012

Oogles... Old Wives Tale or Reality?

Charleston, SC. is one of the
most haunted cities in the United
States and their citizens are extremely
proud of it. On almost every corner you can see advertisements for a haunted
tour of some of their most famous haunts, they have it all, haunted cemeteries,
haunted gardens, jails and islands. These haunted establishments and locations
also sit in the middle of one of the most historic locations in the world.

A quick walk through the cobblestone streets can fill even
the least interested person full of thoughts and questions when you consider
you are walking in the footsteps of our famous ancestors such as George
Washington and Thomas Jefferson. There is also a darker side to the history of
this beautiful city. Pirates such as Blackbeard (Edward Teach) and Stede Bonnet
all spent large portions of their lives in this area. It is this darker side of
Charleston that
seems to come to life.

When cities are rich with paranormal activity, many
superstitions seem to arise and Charleston
is no exception. Located in the "Lowcountry" as locals call it, many
different legends and tales have been passed down for generations. One such
legend is that of the Oogle. Lowcountry legends state that an oogle, a
smallish, strange-looking clay figure should be carried around at all times to
protect you from any type of ghost or goblin.

These oogles are needed because every night when the sun
goes down, the streets of the low country fill with ghosts and goblins that come
out in search of innocent bystanders without oogles. Do they protect you? Legend says yes, for me, only time will
tell. If you are going to think about one thing when you are heading into a
haunted location on vacation, think about picking up and taking an oogle along.
It may be your last line of defense against the unknown.